Jones County woman arrested in connection to fraudulent computer purchases

Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff

Friday

Jan 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 18, 2013 at 6:15 PM

TRENTON — Jones County sheriff’s deputies arrested and charged a Trenton area woman in connection with the fraudulent ordering and billing of at least 30 Apple computers to Jones County Schools.

TRENTON — Jones County sheriff’s deputies arrested and charged a Trenton area woman in connection with the fraudulent ordering and billing of at least 30 Apple computers to Jones County Schools.

Loraine Denise Spence, 57, was arrested at her home at 2745 Wyse Fork Road on Wednesday by Jones County Sheriff Danny Heath and a patrol deputy who found 14 computers at her house and witnessed a UPS shipment with 16 more computers being delivered.

Spence was charged with felony possession of stolen goods and was released in lieu of a $10,000 unsecured bail.

Pacilli said Spence may also face additional charges of obtaining property by false pretenses in Lenoir County and that this ongoing investigation may result in later action by any of several law enforcement agencies now looking into the case.

He said the Jones County Sheriff's Office investigation began Nov. 26, 2012, when the Sheriff’s Office was advised by Jones County school board members that about 30 Apple computers had been fraudulently ordered and then billed to Jones County Schools.

Pacilli spoke to school board members who said the Jones County Schools officials saw “an incorrect purchase order number and realized someone was committing fraud.”

The investigation, in which Sheriff Heath participated, determined that the computers had been ordered by another individual located somewhere outside of North Carolina and that the computers were eventually destined for Ghana, West Africa.

A news release from Capt. Justin Eimer said, “The investigation continued into the new year and led to UPS in Lenoir County,” where Spence had picked up “the computers under false pretenses, by passing herself off as an agent of the Jones County School Board. Upon further review, careful consideration and collaboration with the District Attorney's Office, the lead investigator on the case obtained warrants for the suspect.”

Pacilli said Spence was never employed by the school system and apparently “met a gentleman online and through an online relationship agreed to intercept the computers.”

“He wanted her to repackage and ship the computers separately,” he said. “It sounded like a scam and even she said she thought it was strange.”

Spence is employed, has no record of previous arrest and “has been a model citizen,” Pacilli said. “We believe the person who actually ordered the computers is not in the state of North Carolina or in the country. Most of this has been turned over to higher authorities.”

Sun Journal attempts to contact Spence were unsuccessful.

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5665 or sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.

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